Motivation letter

This is my motivation letter for Erasmus programme. I have read a lot of materials and advices here, but I'm not a native English and it's also my first motivation letter.

So, please, look through my letter and check any grammar mistakes or some things that don't sound good in English. I'll be thankfull for all your comments.

MOTIVATION LETTER



Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is Galina ABC and I’m on the first year of the post-graduate course on the Faculty of Sociology of the Russian State University for the Humanities. I apply for the Erasmus Triple I program for research activity in Pultusk Academy of Humanities as the staff applicant.

I have been occupied with different scientific problems since my first student’s year. In different years subjects of my research have been concerned with the peculiarities of the modern Russian sociological journals (2006), problems of the internal tourism in Russia (2007), features of the large family as a primary socialization institute (2008).

Since 2008 I have been studying the concept of democracy and its values, in particular problems of democracy and its understanding in Russia. My thesis title was “Cognitive Opportunities of the Transition Theory in the Political Processes analysis in the Modern Russia” (2010). It was also based on the data collected during my own empirical research, that included the survey of 439 respondents and its analysis in SPSS.

All these years of my student’s and researching activity I have participated in the working of the different sociological conferences and have appeared on them: including “Our Sociology (Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow) in 2008, XVI International students, postgraduates and young scientists conference “Lomonosov” (Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow) and “Our Sociology” (Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow,) in 2009, XVII International students, postgraduates and young scientists conference “Lomonosov” (Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow) and “Our Sociology” (Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow) in 2010. In these years I have made 5 publications and you may acquaint with the list of them in my CV.

My present research is also concerned with the problems of democracy, in particular with the truth in the country on different levels – interpersonal and institutional. It is not only about Russian situation, but I also analyze the data collected in other countries. But here, in Russia, it is very difficult to know the theoretical aspects and empirical results of the international research on this subject.

In particular I would like to acquaint with the results of the international collaborative research program on the processes of democratization at the local level “Democracy and Local Governance”. Its empirical base is over 750 cities and communes in 25 countries with over 13,000 local leaders interviewed. Moreover two waves of survey (1991-1994, 1995-1997) were also took part in Russia. This research is devoted to the beliefs, values, and behavior of local political leaders, elected, appointed and party. Russian collected data is in the Poland now, in Pultusk Academy of Humanities. It was also found lately that Russian data base is not absolutely relevant to the other data. It needs the careful verification and adjustment with the methodology used during the research in the all other countries. Obtained during this analyze information will be very useful for my present research. And also I would like to participate in the renewal of the tools of this research for its new wave.

Moreover, I would like to visit some lectures about political and social studies in Pultusk Academy and to familiarize with the experience of the Polish researchers in this field. In particular I believe that my collaboration with Polish colleagues will help me to get more profound understanding of the political processes in the post-socialist countries.

Furthermore I know that Pultusk Academy requires knowledge of the Polish language. For several months I have been already studying it. So in the case of the positive decision on my apply, I wouldn’t run into language problems during the research activity in Pultusk Academy.



Yours faithfully,

Galina ABC